Development of redifferentiation-inducing therapy for anaplastic thyroid cancer by VEGFR inhibition

2021 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 19K18740
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Early-Career Scientists
• Allocation Type: Multi-year Fund
• Review Section: Basic Section 56050:Otorhinolaryngology-related
• Research Institution: Wakayama Medical University
• Principal Investigator: KUMASHIRO NAOKO 和歌山県立医科大学, 医学部, 助教 (50746435)
• Project Period (FY): 2019-04-01 – 2022-03-31
• Keywords: 甲状腺未分化癌 / 頭頸部扁平上皮癌 / レンバチニブ / チロシンキナーゼ阻害薬 / MEK阻害薬

Outline of Final Research Achievements

あRadiation therapy or drug treatment (anticancer drug treatment, immune checkpoint inhibitor, molecular target drug) is used to treat unresectable squamous cell carcinoma of the head and neck. Tyrosine kinase inhibitors (lenvatinib) have been reported to have antitumor effects on other carcinomas, but their therapeutic effects on squamous cell carcinoma of the head and neck have not been clearly demonstrated. We used mice to demonstrate that lenvatinib suppresses tumor growth in squamous cell carcinoma of the head and neck.
Lenvatinib is also covered by insurance as a treatment for thyroid cancer, but the effectiveness of combination therapy with other drugs has not been clearly demonstrated. We have demonstrated that the combination therapy of lenvatinib and MEK inhibitors provides a higher tumor effect than each single agent.

Free Research Field

耳鼻咽喉科学

Academic Significance and Societal Importance of the Research Achievements

頭頚部扁平上皮癌に対してレンバチニブはまだ保険収載となっていないが、本研究でその抗腫瘍効果を明らかにしたことにより、転移再発例への治療選択肢が広がるきっかけになると考えている。
またレンバチニブは従来甲状腺癌に対する治療薬として使われていたが、未分化癌への治療効果は十分ではなかった。本研究でレンバチニブとMEK阻害薬との併用療法が、単剤療法よりも高い抗腫瘍効果が明らかになったことから、予後不良な甲状腺未分化癌の治療選択肢が今後広がっていく可能性がある。